Thursday

Albert Oehlen: A Vanguard With Decorum

“This show will unveil Oehlen’s stunning new series under the banner A Vanguard with Decorum. The exhibition will include 15 intimate, graceful drawing-collages on paper, a huge drawing based on the title of the show, and a spectacular new painting. Clearly related in their reduced palette and graphic quality to the computer works, these new pieces introduce an unforseen modernist architecture while amping up the looping, curvaceous, linear intensity.” via the website

Friday

Manifest Urban Arts festival

Various locations, between Roosevelt and Congress and State and Michigan. Map it here.

“Experience Manifest. Columbia College Chicagoâ€™s urban arts festival celebrates the work of seniors and graduate students from every department on campus. Manifest 2009 will feature an artwalk & sale, music on four stages, screenings, readings, live radio, Web casts, the TICTOC Performance Art Festival, the Transmission art car exhibition, Spectacle Fortuna‘s parade of creativity.” via the website

Check out the insane schedule of music, workshops, performances and exhibitions here. Get a pdf version of the schedule here.

Saturday

Weiner Takes All: A Dogumentary

“The little-known world of wiener-dog racing is investigated with humor and charm in a film that appears to have (ahem) legs, based on the ecstatic audience response generated by its numerous festival screenings around the U.S.” via the Gene Siskel website

Grand opening of the Art Insitute’s Modern Wing

Free admission May 16â€“22
Grand opening May 16, 9am-5pm

Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL

“Celebrate the Modern Wingâ€™s public unveiling with AIC on Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Good times include a dedication with architect Renzo Piano at 9 a.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., and live music/dancing from acts like Swing Gitan, Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The grand opening exhibit is Cy Twomblyâ€™s â€œNatural Worldâ€, which will be on display through September 13 at The Abbott Galleriesâ€”the Modern Wingâ€™s special exhibition space located on the first floor.” via the chicagoist